Chamaeleon gummifer

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Chamaeleon gummifer
Atractylis gummifera.jpg
Flowering specimen of Chamaeleon gummifer
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Chamaeleon
Species:
C. gummifer
Binomial name
Chamaeleon gummifer
(L.) Cass.
Synonyms [2]
  • Acarna gummifera(L.) Willd.
  • Acarna macrocephalaWilld.
  • Atractylis acaulisPers.
  • Atractylis gummiferaL.
  • Atractylis macrocephalaDesf.
  • Atractylis nemotoianaArènes
  • Carlina fontanesiiDC.
  • Carlina gummifera(L.) Less.
  • Carlina macrocephalaLess.
  • Carthamus gummiferus(L.) Lam.
  • Cirsellium gummiferum(L.) Brot.

Chamaeleon gummifer, also known as distaff thistle or stemless atractylis, is a thistle in the Chamaeleon genus. Formerly, it was placed in the Atractylis genus. [1] It is native to the Mediterranean basin, where it can be found in various habitats, including cultivated- or uncultivated fields and forests. [3] [1] It is a perennial herb producing a stemless, pinkish flower. The plant has a history of use in folk medicine, but it is very toxic due to the presence of atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside. [4]

Contents

Description

Two Chamaeleon gummifer plants showing inflorescence and dried-out leaves Atractylis gummifera1.JPG
Two Chamaeleon gummifer plants showing inflorescence and dried-out leaves

Chamaeleon gummifer is a perennial thistle with a long rhizome extending up to 40 cm and spiky leaves emanating from its center. [5] [4] A pinkish inflorescence grows in the center, seen as a capitulum consisting of many small threadlike flowers. [4] The inflorescence is surrounded by spiny bracts. [5] Unusual compared to other thistles is the fact that the inflorescence of Chamaeleon gummifer does not grow on a stem. The ripe fruit of the plant may ooze a white or yellowish gummy latex produced by the rhizome. [4] Chamaeleon gummifer flowers in late summer or early autumn. [3]

Distribution

Chamaeleon gummifer can be found along the Mediterranean basin, including Northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Greece and Malta. [1] [3] It grows in various habitats and on various substrates, including in cultivated- or uncultivated fields, shrublands, forests and in rocklands. [1] It is rated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. [1]

Toxicity

The toxicity of Chamaeleon gummifer is thought to be caused by two related glycosides, atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside. [4] In Morocco, Chamaeleon gummifer is a common cause of plant poisoning, with children being especially vulnerable to severe effects. [6] Accidental ingestion of the plant can be due to confusion with the artichoke thistle, or due to use of its gummy discharge as a chewing gum. [6] Fatal cases of poisoning are not uncommon, even with treatment of symptoms. [6] [7] At least 98 fatalities occurred due to Chamaeleon gummifer poisoning in Morocco between 1981 and 2004, most of whom were children under the age of 16. [8] Severe cases may be associated with liver and kidney failure. [9] [7] There is currently no specific treatment to poisoning by Chamaeleon gummifer. [4]

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Atractyloside Chemical compound

Atractyloside (ATR) is a natural, toxic glycoside present in numerous plant species worldwide in the daisy family including Atractylis gummifera and Callilepis laureola, and it's used for a variety of therapeutic, religious, and toxic purposes. Exposure to ATR via ingestion or physical contact is toxic and can be fatal for both humans and animals, especially by kidney and liver failure. ATR acts as an effective ADP/ATP translocase inhibitor which eventually halts ADP and ATP exchange and the cell dies due to lack of energy. Historically, atractyloside poisoning has been challenging to verify and quantify toxicologically, though recent literature has described such methods within acceptable standards of forensic science.

Carboxyatractyloside Chemical compound

Carboxyatractyloside (CATR) is a highly toxic diterpene glycoside that inhibits the ADP/ATP translocase. It is about 10 times more potent than its analog atractyloside. While atractyloside is effective in the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation, carboxyatractyloside is considered to be more effective. The effects of carboxyatractyloside on the ADP/ATP translocase are not reversed by increasing the concentration of adenine nucleotides, unlike its counterpart atractyloside. Carboxyatractyloside behavior resembles bongkrekic acid while in the mitochondria. Carboxyatractyloside is poisonous to humans as well as livestock, including cows and horses.

<i>Aristolochia paucinervis</i> Species of plant

Aristolochia paucinervis is a herbaceous plant in the family Aristolochiaceae endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rankou, Hassan; Taleb, Mohammed; Ouhammou, Ahmed; Martin, Gary (2014-01-27). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Carlina gummifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  2. "Chamaeleon gummifer (L.) Cass". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Paul Portelli (13 Oct 2016). "A thistle in the daisy family". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Daniele, C.; Dahamna, S.; Firuzi, O.; et al. (2005-02-28). "Atractylis gummifera L. poisoning: an ethnopharmacological review". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 97 (2): 175–181. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.025. ISSN   0378-8741. PMID   15707749 . Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  5. 1 2 Mifsud, Stephen (2002-08-23). "Atractylis gummifera (Stemless Atractylis) : MaltaWildPlants.com - the online Flora of the Maltese Islands" (Web Page). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  6. 1 2 3 Achour, S.; Rhalem, N.; Elfakir, S.; et al. (November 2013). "Prognostic factors of Atractylis gummifera L. poisoning, Morocco". Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 19 (11): 953–959. doi: 10.26719/2013.19.11.953 . ISSN   1020-3397. PMID   24673087.
  7. 1 2 Hamouda, C.; Hédhili, A.; Ben Salah, N.; et al. (June 2004). "A review of acute poisoning from Atractylis gummifera L". Veterinary and Human Toxicology. 46 (3): 144–146. ISSN   0145-6296. PMID   15171492.
  8. Hami, H.; Soulaymani, A.; Skalli, S.; et al. (2011-02-01). "Intoxication par Atractylis gummifera L. Données du centre antipoison et de pharmacovigilance du Maroc". Bulletin de la Société de pathologie exotique. 104 (1): 53–57. doi:10.1007/s13149-010-0102-8. ISSN   1961-9049. PMID   21243460 . Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  9. Georgiou, M.; D, Biol; Sianidou, L.; et al. (1988-01-01). "Hepatotoxicity due to atractylis gummifera-L". Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology. 26 (7): 487–493. doi:10.3109/15563658809038564. ISSN   0731-3810. PMID   3230599 . Retrieved 2021-04-07.